Special Issue A 10: January 2018 UGC Approved Journal No 48951 Original Article Open Access Serpentine diversity of Atpadi city and adjoining area. Tal. Atpadi. Dist. Sangli (MS) India Vibhute Shivaji M Department of Zoology Shrimant Babasaheb Deshmukh Mahavidyalay, Atpadi. Dist. Sangli. (Affiliated to Shivaji University, Kolhapur) Email: [email protected] |+919421125102 Manuscript details: ABSTRACT Available online on The observation of biodiversity of snakes was carried out in Atpadi city and http://www.ijlsci.in adjoining area from last 10 years. This work was done in the study area as a rescue operation. The record of rescued snakes was kept for last 10 years and ISSN: 2320-964X (Online) the snakes were released in their natural habitat away from human habitat. ISSN: 2320-7817 (Print) Many species of snakes recorded here are endangered and found only in India only like Rat snake, Indian Cobra, etc. In recent years it was also observed that Editor: Dr. Arvind Chavhan there is a sharp increase in number of Russels Viper. Out of big four poisonous snakes Indian Cobra, Russels Viper and Common krait were recorded in this area. In recent times more victims of Russels Viper snake bite were recorded Cite this article as: Vibhute Shivaji M (2018) in this area. Along with these poisonous snakes in all 13 species of poisonous Serpentine diversity of Atpadi city and nonpoisonous snakes are recorded in this area. and adjoining area. Tal. Atpadi. Dist. Sangli (MS) India, Int. J. of. Life Keywords: snake, Russels Viper, Cobra, Atpadi. Sciences, Special Issue, A10: 77-82. Copyright: © Author, This is an INTRODUCTION open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Snakes are extremely well- adapted to their habitats namely aquatic, fossorial, Attribution-Non-Commercial - No arboreal and other terrestrial forms observed in this region. The variation of Derives License, which permits use their sizes, shapes and colours are generally due to the adaptive radiation in and distribution in any medium, mode of life (Nande et al. 2000). Snakes are intrinsically fascinating and form provided the original work is an important component of the biota. It is natural that their curious mode of properly cited, the use is non- propulsion, venom and constricting mechanism have made them important commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made. group of predators and the interactions maintains a natural balance in the forest and deserts, the plains and hills of India (Harney et al. 2011; Walmiki et al. 2012a) The advent of man appears to have increased the hunting abilities as tea plantations, paddy fields, village huts and city warehouses provided new opportunities for worms and insects, frogs, birds, rats, mice, etc. many of which increased in the areas due to these habitat & safe houses and subsequently are an easy prey for snakes(Fayer et al. 1872; Whitaker et al. 1978). Such expansion and also changes in their food supply apparently caused shifts in the kinds and density of snake population as well (Walmiki et al. 2012 b). National Conference on “Recent Advances in Zoology” (NCRAIZ-2018) | 77 Vibhute Shivaji M, 2018 The snakes found in India show great biodiversity and and anacondas of up to 7.6 meters (25 ft) in length their length varies from 6mm to 10 m, while weight (Joshi 2011). ranges between few grams to several kilograms (Harney et al. 2011). The biodiversity refers to the different genera and species of organisms present in an area. The degree of Snakes have formed an object of awe and curiosity in all species diversity varies from one ecosystem to the other lands. In India they have been associated with (Chavan 2013). India is very rich country in terms of the mysticism, apart from being objects of fear (Deoras, flora and fauna present in the natural ecosystem. About 1963).Snakes are not yet seriously considered as agents 3500 species of snakes are recorded on earth inhabiting of human disease and the scientific insights provided by both land and sea of which about 375 are venomous the clinical phenotype of human envenoming have been (Sharma1982). ignored for a long time (Warrell 2010). There are records in the Ayurveda which pertain to snake venom, particularly the cobra venom. Snakes occupied deserts, METHODOLOGY forests, marshy, swampy places, lakes, streams and rivers of difficult terrains (Dhamankar 2006). Fifteen Snakes were observed and caught in Atpadi City and families are currently recognized, comprising 456 adjoining area on random basis and also after receiving genera and over 2,900 terrestrial species. They range in calls from peoples who see the snakes in and around size from the tiny, 10 cm long thread snake to pythons their houses, fields, roadsides, etc. Fig 1. Map Showing study area Atpadi Tahasil, Sangli District, Maharashtra, India 78 | NCRAIZ -2018 Int. J. of Life Sciences, Special issue, A10; January, 2018 National Conference on “Recent Advances in Zoology” (NCRAIZ-2018) The snakes were caught with the help of snake stick and Common krait were recorded in this area. In recent were packed in cotton bags. These snakes were brought times more victims of Russels Viper snake bite were to the laboratory for further investigations. The snakes recorded in this area. Along with these poisonous brought were identified using books by Romulus snakes in all 14 species of poisonous and nonpoisonous Whitaker (1978) and Ashok Captain, Deoras (1965) and snakes are recorded in this area. Khaire (2010). The details regarding their length, weight, colour and other specific details were observed Showing Study Area and maintained. After collecting the data the snakes I have recorded 14 species of snakes in the study area. were safely released in their natural habitat long enough Out of total 14 species recorded 10 were non venomous, from human habitat with in 2 or 3 days of catch. Such 1 is semi venomous and 3 were venomous as shown in excersize was carried out in the study area from 2007 to table no. 1. 9 species recorded were common and 5 2016. There are over 270 different species of snakes in species were rare as shown in Table no.2. The 14 species India but not all are found everywhere. This activity of recorded in the study area falling into 5 different rescuing snakes from human habitat was undertaken. families. Family colubridae is represented by 8 species This work of conservation of serpentine diversity is followed by Elapidae 2, Typhlopide 2, Boidae 1 and carried out from last 10 years in the Atpadi city and Viperidae 1. Earlier no study was carried out in the adjoining area. This work was done in the study area as study area. It is also observed that there is a sharp a rescue operation. The record of rescued snakes was increase in occurance of Russels viper in and around kept for last 10 years and the snakes were released in human habitat. their natural habitat away from human habitat. Many species of snakes recorded here are endangered and RESULTS AND DISCUSSION found only in India only like Rat snake, Indian Cobra, etc. In recent years it was also observed that there is a sharp An annotated checklist of snakes is prepared on the increase in number of Russels Viper. Out of big four basis of the collected information from studies/survey poisonous snakes Indian Cobra, Russels Viper and from 2007 to 2016. Table 1: Snakes reported from study area Sr.No. Common Name Scientific Name Family Nonvenomous Snakes 1 Worm Snake Typhlops braminus Typhlopidae 2 Beaked worm snake Grypotyphlops acutus Typhlopidae 3 Red Sand Boa Eryx Johnii Boidae 4 Common Trinket Snake Elaphe Helena Colubridae 5 Indian Rat Snake Ptyas mucosus Colubridae 6 Banded Racer Argyrogena fasciolatus Colubridae 7 Banded Kukri Snake Oligodon arnensis Colubridae 8 Common Wolf Snake Lycodon aulicus Colubridae 9 Checkered Keelback Water Snake Xenochropis piscator Colubridae Macropisthodon 10 Green keel back Colubridae plumbicolor Semivenomous Snakes 11 Common cat snake Boiga trigonata Colubridae Venomous Snakes 12 Spectacled cobra Naja naja Elapidae 13 Common krait Bungaru scaeruleus Elapidae 14 Russells Viper Daboia russelli Viperidae www.ijlsci.in Int. J. of Life Sciences, Special Issue A10; January, 2018 | 79 Vibhute Shivaji M, 2018 Plate 1: 1. Typhlops braminus 2. Grypotyphlops acutus 3. Eryx Johnii 4. Elaphe Helena 5. Ptyas mucosus 6. Argyrogena fasciolatus 7. Oligodon arnensis 8. Lycodon aulicus 9. Xenochropis piscator 10. Macropisthodon plumbicolor 11. Boiga trigonata 12. Naja naja 13. Bungaru scaeruleus 14. Daboia russelli 80 | NCRAIZ -2018 Int. J. of Life Sciences, Special issue, A10; January, 2018 National Conference on “Recent Advances in Zoology” (NCRAIZ-2018) Table 2: Snakes reported as per their occurrence status Marathi Occurr Sr.No. Common Name Scientific Name Type Name ence 1 Worm Snake Typhlops braminus Wala NV C 2 Beaked worm snake Grypotyphlops acutus Wala NV C 3 Red Sand Boa Eryx Johnii Mandol NV C 4 Common Trinket Snake Elaphe Helena Taskar NV C 5 Indian Rat Snake Ptyas mucosus Dhaman NV C 6 Banded Racer Argyrogena fasciolatus Dhul Nagin NV R 7 Banded Kukri Snake Oligodon arnensis Kukri NV R 8 Common Wolf Snake Lycodon aulicus Kavdya NV R 9 Checkered Keelback Xenochropis piscator Virola NV C 10 Green keel back Macropisthodon plumbicolor Gavtya NV C 11 Common cat snake Boiga trigonata Manjarya SV R 12 Spectacled cobra Naja naja Nag V C 13 Common krait Bungaru scaeruleus Manyar V R 14 Russells Viper Daboia russelli Ghonus V C NV – Non venomous, SV – Semi venomous, V – Venomous. C – Common, R – Rare Fig 1: Family wise distribution of snake Fig 2: Percentage wise occurrence of snakes CONCLUSION Acknowledgements During the study period from 2007 to 2016, 14 species I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude to all of snakes were observed in the study area, of which 10 peoples who contacted me for snake rescue and were non venomous, 1 was semi venomous and 3 were Principal Dr.